Watch with built-in audio alarm device

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an alarm watch adapted for delivery of voice frequency alarm signal by the use of a built-in miniaturized audio machine, preferably a cartridge endless tape type magnetic tape recorder. The watch is fitted with a built-in speaker, working magnet and moving coil which are shaped into respective cylindrical forms thereby providing a large idle space within the watch case for receiving the watch movement or the audio machine.

United States Patent [191 Ichikawa et al.

l l WATCH WITH BUILT-IN AUDIO ALARM DEVICE [75] inventors: Shingolchikawa, Sayama; Humio Takeuchi; Hideyuki Kawashima, both of Tokyo. allof Japan [73] Assignee: Citizen Watch Co.. Ltd.. Tokyo.

Japan [22] Filed: Mar. 1, 1974 [2'll App]. No.: 447,410

[ 1 Apr. 8, 1975 3,032.65] 5/1962 GisigerStahl et al l, 58/152 R X3.352JU2 ll/l967 Schneider 58/575 X -1733.804 5/l973 Diersbock i. 58/575X [57) ABSTRACT This invention relates to an alarm watch adapted forForeign pp Priomy Dam delivery of voice frequency alarm signal by theuse of Mar. 3. i973 Japan H 48-25555 a built-in miniaturized audiomachine, preferably a June I9. 1973 Japan .i 48-69033 cartridge endlesstape type magnetic tape recorder. The watch is fitted with a built-inspeaker, working [52] US. Cl. .5 58/575 magnet and moving coil which areshaped into respec- ISI] Int. Cl. G04b 23/l2; G04c 2l/34 tivecylindrical forms thereby providing a large idle [58} Field of Search58/38, 57.5, l52 R 152 B Space within the watch case for receiving thewatch movement or the audio machine. [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 7 Claims. 9 Drawing Figures 2.644.294 7/1953 Ditisheim 58/575 a?5 '7' h 1 4c 48 l U PATENIEDAPR 3:975

SHKET 1 OF 3 FIG. 2

IOo

FIG. 6

PATENTEUAPR 8|S75 3,875,738

FIG. 5

WATCH WITH BUILT-IN AUDIO ALARM DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to an alarm watch adapted for delivery of a voicefrequency alarm signal by the use of a builtin miniaturized audiomachine, preferably a cartridge endless tape type magnetic taperecorder.

In the past, alarm watches have been designed and arranged to deliver ahigher frequency alarm signal than a voice frequency, on account of thedifficulty in the provision of a proper speaker which must be built intothe watch. Such miniaturized speaker must have the largest possiblevibratory or oscillatable membrane which cooperates with a centrallyarranged moving coil-working magnet assembly. Such a speaker structurc.however conflicts with the time-indicating hands mechanism of the watch.

It is therefore a main object of the present invention to provide analarm watch adapted for delivery of a voice frequency alarm signal.

This and further objects. features and advantages of the invention willbecome more apparent as the description proceeds.

For fulfilment of the above and further objects the alarm watchcomprises a watch case, a watch movement contained therein. a speakerbuilt into said watch case. an alarm setter operated from said watchmovement. and an audio machine operativcly connected with said alarmsetter and electrically connected with said speaker. this inventionbeing characterized by the working magnet and moving coil being shapedinto respective cylindrical forms defining a large idle space withinsaid watch case so that either said watch movement or said audio machineis positioned practically in said idle space.

As an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said moving coil isfixedly attached to an oscillatable membrane which is supported at itsouter periphery on and by said watch case in such a way that thecylindrical coil is arranged concentrically to the latter.

Asa further advantageous embodiment of the invention. said cylindricalworking magnet is mounted in a concentric ring groove formed in saidwatch case and in proximity to the inside wall surface of the latter,leaving a cylindrically shaped magnetic gap in which a substantial partof said moving coil is positioned. The magnetic circuit including saidworking magnet consisting of a permanent magnet passes through thematerial of said watch case.

As a still further advantageous embodiment of the invcntion, said audiomachine is either a miniaturized. endless tape cartridge type magnetictape recorder or a miniaturized radio receiving set.

In the former case the speaker is designed and arranged as a speakermicrophone by which the user of the watch can record his voice messageon the tape for the purpose of a later delivery the alarm signal.

In the alarm watch according to this invention said oscillatablemembrane is transparent for viewing timeindicating hands and a watchdial. The audio machine is operated for a predetermined period of timeupon operation of said alarm setter under the influence of a timer.

These and further objects, features and advantages will become moreapparent when reading the following detailed description of theinvention by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrative of apreferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. I is a plan view of a watch fitted with a built-in loud speakerdesigned and arranged in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a section of the watch shown in FIG. 1, taken along a sectionline II-II' shown therein and illustrated with a somewhat enlargedscale.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial plan view of FIG. I. wherein, however, theplastic glass cover has been partially broken away for clearrepresentation of several parts of the built-in loud speaker.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a miniaturized magnetic tape recorderunit acting as an audio alarm machine and built into the watch forcooperation with the speaker.

FIG. Sis a plan view ofa motion-teansmitting mechanism opcrativelyarranged between the watch movement of said watch and said magnetic taperecorder unit, said mechanism being illustrated on a slightly reducedscale relative to that of FIGv 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along a broken section lineVI-VI' in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an electronic circuit arranged in the magnetic tape recordershown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a source battery circuit arranged in the magnetic taperecorder.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a ring magnet employed in the loudspeaker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIGS. I 3,numeral I represents a conventional watch movement shown onlyschematically by its outline configuration. Numeral 2 represents aconventional time-indicating dial on which hour minute and seconds handsare rotatably mounted as shown at 19a. 19b and 190, respectively, inFIGS. I and 3, and at I9 in a grouped manner in FIG. 2. The movement Iis fixedly mounted on a holder plate 3 by means of a plurality of setscrews I4, said holder plate being in turn fixedly attached to a caseband 4 by means of a plurality of set screws 13.

The case band 4 is made ofa high permeability material such as softiron, permalloy, cobalt platinum alloy or the like and formed with aconcentric ring groove 4f leaving a ring pole 4a and representing anouter ring wall surface 4b. A permanent magnet 5 shaped into a hollowring radially magnetized is fixedly secured into said groove 4fin tightcontact with said wall surface 4b. A ring-shaped idle gap is seenbetween the magnet 5 and the magnetic pole 4a. A movable coil 17 shapedinto a hollow cylinder is inserted from above into this idle gap, saidcoil being fixedly attached to a transparent membrane 16 by applying aglueing agent. This membrane 16 is in turn fixedly attached at itsperiph eral zone to a supporting ring member 18 by application of aglueing agent. A vibratory member 23 is constituted by the combinationof these two members I6 and 17. The supporting ring 18 is fixedlyattached at 4c by glueing to the case band 4 which carries fixedly at40' a bezel 8.

Plastic glass cover 6 is formed with a number of perforations 6a and ashielding ring plate 7 is attached fixedly at its outer peripheral ringarea on its inside surface by means of a glueing agent, for theprevention of viewing the speaker from outside of the watch by a viewer.The cover 6 is fixedly attached to the bezel 8 as usual by a press fitor a similar attaching measure.

Numeral 10 represents a conventional back cover which is screwed at 10aon the open bottom of case band 4 a sealing rubber ring 11 beingprovided as shown for preventing invasion of moisture from outside.

Numeral 9 represents a magnetic tape recorder unit as a representativeembodiment of an electronic audio instrument set which may be, whendesired, a miniaturized radio receiving set or the like, although notshown. This tape recorder 9 is positioned below the movement support 3.The detail structure and operation of this tape recorder will bedescribed more fully in the following as the description proceeds.

Numeral represents a conventional time-setting and winding stem, and 21and 22 a record operation stem and a playback operation stem,respectively, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The loud speaker comprises mainly said vibratory member 23 and amagnetic circuit including said idle gap and as described can oscillateby supplying audio signal current from the unit to said movable coil 17and the audible output signal issued by the oscillating movement of themembrane 16 which may be of polycarbonate. polypropylene or the likematerial, is dissipated through the perforations 6a to outside of thewatch.

In FIG. 4, numeral 26 represents a base plate; 27 an endless tape; 28 atape magazine containing a roll of tape from which the tape 27 has beentaken out and threaded through several tape guides 33!), 33c, 33d,capstan 30 and a tape guide 33a; and 29 a drive motor. The motordirectly drives conventional capstan 30. This motor 29 drives at thesame time and through a reduction gearing, not shown, a control cam 31for the control of the endless tape 27, as will be more fully describedhereinafter.

Numeral 34 represents a back tension roller kept in rolling contact withthe tape 27 at tape guide 33d and freely rotatably mounted on the tipend of a spring arm 34a the root portion of which is fixedly mounted at100 on the base plate 26.

A recording and reproducing magnetic head 35 is kept in sliding contactwith the tape 27 which is urged to keep this contact by means of a pad36 mounted on a spring arm, 360, the root portion of the latter beingfixedly mounted at 36b and 366 on the base plate 26.

Numeral 37 denotes a magnetic eraser head kept in sliding contact withthe tape as shown in the course of the magnetic recording stage. Thishead 37 comprises a permanent magnet mass, in the present specificembodiment, said mass being mechanically connected with the recordingand reproducing change-over stem or knob 21. By manually drawing outthis knob 21, the eraser head can be retracted from its contactingposition. For this purpose, this knob 21 has been constructed andarranged in the similar manner with the conventional time-setting andspring-winding stem of the watch, as at 20, although not specificallyshown and described.

A block represents an audio signal amplifier circuit as conventionallyemployed in magnetic tape recorders and will be more fully describedhereinafter by reference to FIG. 7.

A further block 38 represents a conventionally known electronic speedcontrol circuit comprising transistor means adapted for sensing therotational speed of the motor 29 and interrupting source battery 39,FIGS. 7 and 8, when the motor speed exceeds a we determined upper limitand reconnecting the battery again when it drops beyond said limit, asknown per se, although not specifically shown and described by virtue ofits very well known nature.

Numeral 40 represents an on-off control switch which is a follower tosaid cam 31 and adapted at its onposition for supplying current fromsaid source battery 39 to said both circuits 25 and 38 and vice versa.The switch 40 is formed with a resiliently supported projection 40aadapted for cooperation with a recess 31a formed on the peripheralsurface of said cam 31.

In the following, the operation of the miniaturized magnetic taperecorder shown substantially in FIG. 4 will be described, together withseveral further constituent parts thereof.

This tape recorder is of the endless tape, constant time recording andconstant time playback type. In the off-service position thehreof shownin FIG. 4, the switch control projection 400 on the switch 40 is kept inengagement with a recess or notch 31a on the control cam 31, thus theswitch being off. Therefore, the circuit 38 is de-energized and themotor 29 is stationary.

Under these conditions, when an alarm control switch 42, FIG. 6, iscaused to close under the influence of the alarming operation derivedfrom the watch movement, as will be more fully described hereinafter,motor speed control circuit 38 is kept energized for operation during acertain predetermined period, say 30 seconds, the motor 29 is startedand the cam 31 is driven therefrom.

With rotation of the cam 31, the projection 40a is disengaged fromcontact with said cam notch 130, so as to close the source switch 40,thereby the both circuits 25 and 38 being self-maintained and the motor29 continuing its rotational movement.

Upon a complete revolution of said cam 31, the projection 40a is broughtinto re-engagement with cam notch 31a and the source switch 40 is causedto open for de-energizing the motor 29. Thus, a complete operation cyclehas been terminated.

During this one cycle period of the tape recorder operation, apredetermined length, say 51 cm, of the tape 27 passes over the magnetichead 35 which is adapted for acting as a recording head or a playbackhead, as the case may be.

During the recording period, the knob 12 is held at its pushed-inposition as shown in FIG. 5, so as to keep the eraser head 37 in contactwith the endless tape 27. When the motor 29 is brought into rotation inthe aforementioned manner, and in the direction shown by an arrow B,motion is transmitted through capstan 30 to the tape which is thuscaused to travel clockwise in FIG. 4. Part of the tape, being erased bycontact with eraser head 37 is subjected to recording by cooperationwith the head 35 acting at this stage as a recording head. The recordingsignal, say the watch users voice information is conveyed from thespeaker 15, acting at this stage as a microphone, through the amplifiercircuit 25 to the magnetic head 35, as will be more fully describedhereinafter.

For initiation ofa playback operation, the knob 21 is drawn out from theshown position so as to recede the eraser head 37 from contact with thetape.

When the motor 29 is caused to rotate in the aforementioned manner, therecoded signal is picked up by the head 35 acting at this stage as aplayback head as will be more fully described hereinafter. In thisplayback operation, the picked-up signal will be conveyed through theamplifier circuit 25 to the speaker unit from which, therefore, thecorresponding audio information will be delivered through theperforations 6a to open atmosphere.

In FIG. 5, an alarm control mechanism mounted on the bottom surface ofthe base plate 26 is schematically shown at a substantially reducedscale relative to FIG. 4. Therefore, FIG. 5 corresponds to a reduced andinverted bottom view of FIG. 4, wherein, however, main working parts ofthe alarm control mechanism only have been illustrated and minor andrather superfluous parts have been omitted from the drawing only forbetter and clearer understanding of the invention.

in FIGS. 5 and 6, the base plate is shown at 26 as above, yet at asubstantially reduced scale relative to FlG. 4 as above mentioned. Thisbase plate is made of an insulating material. The base plate 26 isformed with recessed areas 26a, 26b and 26c and with a centralnoncircular opening 101.

Alarm setting knob 22 is made rigid with a stem 22a which is rotatablymounted in a bore 102 and carried at its innermost end a gear 43preferably in the similar manner to the conventional clutch wheel, notshown. Motion is transmitted from the gear 43 through intermediate gears44 and 45 mounted in the recess 26a, to an alarm-setting gear 46 havingthree small openings 46a, 46b and 46(- arranged at mutually differentradial distances.

Numeral 12 represents a center wheel extension arbor which is rigid withthe conventional center wheel, not shown, an alarm setting pinion 47mounted on said arbor 12 for unitary rotation therewith. Numeral 48represents an alarm-setting minute wheel which is rotatably mounted on ashort stationary arbor 3a studded on holder plate 3.

Numeral 49 represents an alarm-setting cannon wheel which is rotatablymounted on the said alarm setting cannon wheel and formed with threeprojections corresponding to said three small openings 46a, 46b and 46con the wheel 46, the said projections being, however, shown only twothereof at 49b and 49c. Minute wheel 48 consists of a gear portion 48aand a pinion portion 48!) made integral therewith, said gear portion 480engaging with alarm-setting pinion and said pinion portion 48b engagingwith said cannon wheel 49 as shown in FIG. 6. Therefore, motion istransmitted from said center wheel extension arbor 12 which makes acomplete revolution per hour, to the cannon wheel 49 at a specificallyreduced rate of a complete revolution per 12 hours.

A switching spring arm 51, an insulating washer 52 and an alarm-settingspring 50 are fixed mounted in a stack on the base plate 26 by means ofa set screw 53, said spring 50 having a semicircularly curved endportion kept in pressure engagement with the wheel 46 urging the latterfrom upper in FIG. 6 towards cannon wheel 49.

Leads 54 and 55 connects electrically the springs 50 and and S1 torespective terminals 56 and 57 which are shown also in FIG. 8. Thesesprings 50 and 51 constitute in combination an alarm-setting switch 42shown in FIG. 8.

Alarm-setting wheel 46 is provided thereon with an hour time scale 46dwhich is visible through a transparent window 10b formed through backcover 10.

The operation of the alarm-setting device substantially shown in FIGS. 5and 6 is as follows.

For performing an alarm-setting operation, the user of the watch turnsthe knob 22 to the desired degree by viewing the time scale 46d throughthe window 10b, thereby motion being transmitted from the knob throughsuccessive members 43 46 to the wheel 46. Therefore, the user can setany desired alarm time. For this purpose, an indicating arrow or thelike representation is provided at the window 10b or so, although notshown.

With regular operation of the watch movement 1, the extension arbor 12rotates a complete revolution per hour which rotational movement istransmitted through wheels 47 and 48 to cannon wheel 49 which makes acomplete revolution per 12 hours.

When the small openings 460 46c on alarm-setting wheel 46 are broughtinto registration with the corresponding small projections as at 49!);49c on the cannon wheel 46, the latter is resiliently depressed underthe spring force at 50 so that the both wheels 46 and 49 are broughtinto direct contact with each other and the both springs 50 and 51 arealso brought into mutual contact for current conveyance. Thus, thealarmsetting switch 42 is brought into its closed position. Thus, thetape recorder will start to perform a recording or playback service, asthe case may be, depending upon the previously selected axial positionof the knob 21.

In FIG. 7, speaker-microphone unit 15 comprises the parts 4a, 5, l6 and17 shown most clearly in FIG. 2. 35 represents schematically a recordingand reproducing magnetic as before. S, and S represent a pair ofchange-off switches which are commonly controlled by manipulation of theknob 21. The full-line position of these switches corresponds to therecording service of the tape recorder as shown in FIG. 4, while thedotted line position of these switches corresponds to the playbackservice of the tape recorder. Thus, stationary contacts A, and A ofthese switches serve for the re cording service, while stationarycontacts B, and B serve for the playback service.

60 represents a voltage amplifier which serves for the amplification ofthe audio signal current 61 represents a power amplifier which servesfor the drive of the speaker. These amplifiers 60 and 61 provide incombination a signal amplifier. 40 represents said source switch whichis adapted for connection of source battery 39 for the desiredoperation, as was briefly set forth hereinbefore and as will be morefully described hereinafter.

62 represents a conventional high pass filter which is effective duringthe recording service. 63 represents a feed-back circuit for thegeneration of alarming sounds. 64 represents an analogue switch adaptedfor connection of said circuit 63 to said power amplifier circuit 61necessary for the oscillation job. 65 represents a timer circuit adaptedfor operation for a certain time period, such as 30 seconds as wasreferred to, to on-off-control of the said analogue switch 64 uponactuation of said switch 40. Numeral 66 represents a signal detectoradapted for operation upon reception of the output signal from the poweramplifier 6] so as to on-off control of an illuminating diode 67.

The aforementioned several constituents are electrically connected asshown. thus the mutual wiring connection could be well understoodwithout further analysis thereof.

The operation of the audio circuit shown in FIG. 7 is as follows.

In the case of the recording service. the knob 21 is pushed-in to theposition shown. as was referred to hereinbefore. By this operation. saidswitches S and S: are set to their respective full line position.Therefore. the unit is connected as a microphone to the inlet of thevoltage amplifier 60 through stationary contact B while the magnetichead is connected through stationary contact A, and the compensator 62to the output side of the power amplifier 60.

With the on-position of said switch by the manipulation of knob 21 thesource battery is connected to all the circuits. Then. the potential atgate terminal 69 of inverter 68 constituting said timer circuit willrise up exponentially depending upon the time constant provided by thecombination of resistor 70 and capacitor 71. During such operationalperiod that the potential at gate terminal 69 does not reach the reverseoperation level of said inverter 68, the output 72 of inverter 68 isheld at the source voltage level. Therefore. switching transistor 73constituting said analogue switch 64 is held on through a bias resistor74. and power amplifier 61 and feedback circuit 63 constitute incombination an oscillator circuit. the oscillation being made dependentupon the time constant as determined by the combination of a resistor 75and a capacitor 76 included in the feedback circuit 63. The thusprovided oscillation signal is conveyed through a complying condenser 77to signal detector circuit 66 which comprises a switching transistor 78.a bias resistor 79, an illuminating diode 67 for signal representationand a current limit ing resistor 80 which are mutually connected asshown.

With no input signal impressed. switching transistor 78 is kept in itsoft condition. and thus. the diode 67 does not illuminate. and viceversa.

When it is assumed that the frequency of the aforementioned oscillationbe 3 kHz. the diode 67 will be seen visually to a viewer as if itilluminates continu ously. from which operation the viewer can be awareof the oscillating state ofthc sensing circuit 66. The oscillatingoperation will continue until the switching transistor 73 of saidanalogue switch 64 becomes off upon attainment of the potential at gateterminal 69 at the operation reversing level and by the inversion of thepotential at output 72 to earth potential.

The user. therefore. can initiate a recording opera tion by directinghis oral message towards the speakermicrophone unit upon operation ofthe knob 21 in the aforementioned way and upon observation oftermination of the illuminating operation at diode 67.

The voice signal presented to said unit 15 will be converted into acorresponding electrical signal therein and conveyed through switches Sand S to voltage amplifier 60 and the amplified signal is furtherconveyed through compesnator 62 to magnetic head 35 which thus performsrecording operation on the tape 27 as usual.

On the other hand. part of the output signal from amplifier 61 isconveyed to signal detector circuit 66 for energizing the illuminatingdiode 67 according to the voice frequency by which the user canacknowledge the recording operation for safety,

Upon lapse ofthe recording operation for a predetermined constantperiod. 30 seconds in the present embodiment as determined by a completerevolution of the foregoing control cam 31 on the miniatured taperecorder. source switch 40 is turned off as in the aforementioned way.so as to terminate the recordation.

In order to initiate a playback operation, the user draws out the knob21 to keep the eraser head from contact with the tape, and at the sametime. to transfer the switches S, and S. from their full-line positionto their dotted line position in FIG. 7. Any person skilled in the artcould easily understand the playback mode of the tape recorded byconsulting the foregoing description by reference to FIG. 7. evenwithout further detail analysis thereof.

In FIG, 8, numeral 81 represents a source circuit including the sourcebattery 39. The alarm-setting switch is shown again at 42. Numeral 82 isa further switch which is closed when the knob 21 is operated to itsrecord job position. Source switch is shown again at 40.

Numeral 83 denotes a switching circuit which comprises a PNP-switchingtransistor 84, a further and inverting transistor 85 for control of theoperation of the latter and a still further transistor 86 for performinga timing control job. These three transistors 84. 85 and 86 areconnected mutually as shown. A load resistor 87 is connected in thecollector passage of said lastmentioned transistor 86 and a condenser 88is connected to the base electrode thereof. the opposite side of saidcondenser being as a common emitter to the transistors 86 and 85. Acharging resistor 89 is connected in parallel to said load resistor 87.In this circuit 81, the emitter at 90 and collector at 91 of saidtransistor 84 are connected across the switch 40. The emitters of saidtransistors 85 and 86 and the opposite side of said condenser 88 areconnected to a common terminal 92. The outer ends of said resistors 87and 89 are con nected to a further terminal 93 which is connected inparallel to respective stationary contacts, only one of them being shownat 56, of switches 42 and 52.

conventionally designed audio signal amplifier circuit 25 and electricspeed control or motor drive circuit 38 shown only schematically in FIG.4 by their outline configuration are illustrated in FIG. 8 only in afurther simplified rectangular blocks. As shown. these circuits 25 and38 are connected to the circuit 81 at its loads.

The operation of the source circuit 81 is as follows,

Now. it is assumed that switch projection 40a is kept in preciseengagement with cam notch 31a so that source switch 40 is opened andthat further two switches 42 and 82 are also kept in their open positionas shown in FIG. 8. In this case. switching circuit 83 is off. becausethere is no source voltage at the terminal 93, thus the switchingtransistor 84 being off. No current will be supplied to the both loadcircuits 25 and 18.

When switch 42 or 82 is closed. source voltage is conveyed to theterminal 93 and the transistor 85 is biased through resistor 87 andturns on. Therefore. the transistor 84 connected with the collector oftransistor 85 turns equally on. Therefore. source voltage is fed throughthe transistor 84 to the load circuits 25 and 38. With energization ofmotor drive circuit 38, cam 31 will operates and source switch 40 isclosed and self maintained.

With application of source voltage to said terminal 93, the basepotential at transistor 86 will rise up exponentially depending upon thetime constant defined by resistor 89 and condenser 88 until, upon lapseofa predetermined period, say 30 seconds in this specific embodiment. itreaches the operation-reversing voltage of transistor 86. At thisinstance, the transistor 86 reverses its state from off to on whichresults in the reversed state of transistor 84 from on to off throughthe intermediary of transistor 85. Therefore, the application of sourcevoltage of transistor 84 will be terminated. However, at this stage, thesource switch has been selfmaintained at its closed state, current willbe nevertheless supplied to the both load circuits 25 and 38.

This operational conditions will be terminated upon completion of onecycle operation of the miniatured tape recorder, so so to bring thesource switch 40 into its released position under the influence of thecam operation at 31, as was referred to hereinafter.

The electrical charge accumulated in the condenser 88 will beself-released after opening of both switches 42 and 82 through the leakresistance at the same condenser 88.

The use of PNP-transistor at 84 is for such reason that the unavoidablevoltage loss as met during the switching service is rather smaller thanwith use of NPN-transistor.

In FIG. 9, a most preferably embodiment of the ringshaped permanentmagnet is shown.

In this embodiment. a number of magnet pieces 58 are arranged into acircle and fixed together such as, by glueing at 59. A preferablymaterial may be a samarium-cobalt alloy, showing a magnetic anisotropyand representing higher values of BH- area and coercive force. Thesemagnetic segments 58 must have easily magnetizable directionality asshown representatively by small arrows A in FIG. 9. The completed magnet5 has been magnetized to have N-poles on its inner periphery and S-poleson its outer periphery, as a representative example. In this way, arather powerful magnet can be provided at a rather cheap price. Further,in this way, the clectromagnetically cooperating and oppositely arrangedsurfaces of the magnet and moving coil can be made broader thanotherwise. By adopting these means, a sufficiently powerful audio outputcan be obtained without undue increase of the height or thickness of thewatch.

In the foregoing specification, the magnetic tape recorder was used as arepresentative of the audio machine. It is very easy to replace aminiatured radio receiving set for the tape recorder, when necessary. toany person skilled in the art, although a more specific analysis hasbeen omitted from the foregoing specification for the reason ofsimplicity of its disclosure. Naturally, in this case, minor change ofdesign and arrangement of the related other parts would be necessary.

The tape recorder shown in FIG. 4 has a overall diameter 36 mm whenmeasured at its base plate 26, as an example. Other constituent partshave been drawn substantially in their dimensional relationship relativeto that of the base plate.

The tape speed may be 17 mm/sec. The recordplayback head 35 may haveoverall dimensions of 8 X 7 X 5 mm. The drive motor 29 may have adiameter of 13 mm and a height of 6 mm. Tape magazine 28 may have adiameter of 7 mm and a thickness of 4 mm. The battery 39 may have adiameter of ll.6 mm and a thickness of 5.3 mm.

The movable coil 17 may be of 100 turns of u-copper wire, having a coildiameter of 30.6 mm and coil thickness of 230 p" Magnetic gap may be 600a.

When necessary, the watch movement, can be arranged at the shownposition of the audio machine 9 in FIG. 2, so as to arrange the latterat an upper position occupied by the watch movement shown in FIG. I. Inthis case, the audio machine must have a smaller overall radialdimension than illustrated and instead, the watch movement may have arather larger diametral dimension.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are as follows:

1. An alarm watch comprising a watch case, a watch movement containedtherein, speaker means built into said watch case, alarm setting meansoperatively connected to and driven by said watch movement, audio meansmounted in said ease and operatively connected with said alarm settingmeans, current source means, said speaker means being electricallyconnected with said audio means and said current source means andcomprising a vibratory membrane, supported by said watch case, acylindrical permanent magnet having a ring pole mounted on said watchcase and a cylindrical movable coil secured to said membrane forvibratory movement relative to said magnet, said cylindrical magnet andring pole defining a central cylindrical space in which said watchmovement is located, said alarm setting means being adapted to initiateoperation of said audio means by operation of said watch movementwhereby audio signals from said audio means are applied to said movablecoil of said speaker means for vibrating said membrane to generate anaudio output therefrom.

2. An alarm watch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said membrane is madeof transparent material.

3. An alarm watch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ring pole isintegral with and concentrically spaced from said cylindrical magnet todefine a cylindrically shaped magnetic gap in which said movable coil ispositioned.

4. An alarm watch as set forth in claim 1 wherein a magnetic circuit isformed which includes said permanent magnet and the material of saidwatch case.

5. An alarm watch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said audio means iscomprised of a miniaturized endless tape cartridge type magnetic taperecorder.

6. An alarm watch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said audio means iscomprised of a miniaturized radio receiving set.

7. An alarm watch as set forth in claim I wherein said alarm settingmeans include cam operated switch means for operating said audio meansfor a predetermined period of time.

1. An alarm watch comprising a watch case, a watch movement containedtherein, speaker means built into said watch case, alarm setting meansoperatively connected to and driven by said watch movement, audio meansmounted in said case and operatively connected with said alarm settingmeans, current source means, said speaker means being electricallyconnected with said audio means and said current source means andcomprising a vibratory membrane, supported by said watch case, acylindrical permanent magnet having a ring pole mounted on said watchcase and a cylindrical movable coil secured to said membrane forvibratory movement relative to said magnet, said cylindrical magnet andring pole defining a central cylindrical space in which said watchmovement is located, said alarm setting means being adapted to initiateoperation of said audio means by operation of said watch movementwhereby audio signals from said audio means are applied to said movablecoil of said speaker means for vibrating said membrane to generate anaudio output therefrom.
 2. An alarm watch as set forth in claim 1wherein said membrane is made of transparent material.
 3. An alarm watchas set forth in claim 1 wherein said ring pole is integral with andconcentrically spaced from said cylindrical magnet to define acylindrically shaped magnetic gap in which said movable coil ispositioned.
 4. An alarm watch as set forth in claim 1 wherein a magneticcircuit is formed which includes said permanent magnet and the materialof said watch case.
 5. An alarm watch as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid audio means is comprised of a miniaturized endless tape cartridgetype magnetic tape recorder.
 6. An alarm watch as set forth in claim 1wherein said audio means is comprised of a miniaturized radio receivingset.
 7. An alarm watch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said alarmsetting means include cam operated switch means for operating said audiomeans for a predetermined period of time.